1 Cor. 6:12-20, Romans 6-8 Illustrated

Rom. 6-8 is the primary teaching in the NT on the matter of “sanctification,” how we are being saved day by day, growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ.  In that passage “obedience” is never commanded but is seen as the result of other commands: reckon yourselves indeed to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord and present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (6:11,13).  Further, it tells me I am “not under law” (6:14).  I am “dead to the law” (7:4).  In fact, the law brings death; it kills me (7:10-11).  It then tells me that my relationship with Christ, and specifically my faith in Christ, is how I will grow and mature as a believer.

I Cor. 6:12-20 gives us a situation where Paul applies the great truths of Rom. 6-8 to a specific issue of Christian living. 

·       6:12: “All things are lawful for me … All things are lawful for me.”  This word “lawful” is 30+ times in the NT, almost all of them in the Gospels speaking of what was lawful in Judaism (no work on Sabbath, carrying your bed on Sabbath, etc.)  But Paul is not under law, so in terms of “lawfulness” he can do anything.  This is a big-time issue in Romans, esp. 8:1-4.  The law is weak through the flesh.  If I return to trying to be righteous by the flesh, doing my best, I will fail as did the Jews (3:19-20; 9:30-31).  Paul does not reject sexual immorality on the basis of the Ten Commandments.  If he did he would stumble over Christ like the Jews did (9:32-33).

·       6:12: BUT “all things are not helpful … I will not be brought under the power of any.”  The issue is not what does the law say.  It is, “who reigns in your life?” (Rom. 5:20-21).  You are not under law.  You are also not “under” the power/authority of sex, or harlots.  You are under grace.  What does that mean?

·       6:13: Your body is “for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”  Thus, Rom. 6:12-13, you present your body to the Lord for righteousness (12:1 says the same).

·       6:14: What happens when you present your body to Him?  He raises you from the dead, so to speak.  He gives life to your mortal body (Rom. 8:10-11).  As 6:14 puts it, God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

·       6:15: You are members of the body of Christ.  You have yielded it to Him to do with it as He pleases.  To give it to a harlot contradicts this truth (Rom. 6:13).

·       6:16-17: Compare this to Rom. 8:9-11.  We are one spirit with Him because He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

·       6:18-20 complete the application of Rom. 6-8 to the issue of sexual immorality.  This process leads me to the place where God is glorifies in my body (Phil. 1:20-21).  The “process” involves the life of Christ working in me by His Spirit.